Helmet Cam View of a Water tower inspection
source: http://www.ronperrin.us
Why is this a BIG DEAL?
Currently there are no EPA regulations requiring water tanks and towers to ever be inspected. Most states do not require tank inspection or cleaning. The water in the storage tanks goes from the tank directly to your tap.
All water tanks accumulate sediment over time. The soft sediment in the floor of water tanks and towers becomes a safe habitat for bacteria, protozoa and even VIRUSES!
Out of site out of mind-
No one thinks about the sediment.
The water is tested daily, if the chlorine residual goes down - operators do not ask why, they just add more chlorine, over time the additional chlorine breaks down and itself becomes a contaminate in the tank that can cause cancer.
Instead of constantly adding more and more treatment chemicals, simply cleaning the sediment from the floor of the tanks is the solution.
A countless number of biological contaminates can use the sediment in the floor of water tanks and towers to get a foot hold in a municipal drinking water system and grow into a real health concern. Why should we care what is on the bottom of a water storage tank?
We drink off the bottom of water storage tanks! Of course like many things the adverse health effects are unequally distributed to poor communities where drinking store bought bottled water is not a given, It is also these communities who have underfunded water systems that suffer from lack of maintenance.
Many utility systems that can afford inspection and cleaning of their systems simply do not allocate the funds for it because there are no regulations requiring them to do so.
What do you think?
Take the poll at www.ronperrin.us
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLfqaWH_nO4&feature=youtu.be
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treewolf39
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An old boss of mine made a shit heap of money painting the inside of water tanks. Good post!+^'d
- 8 months ago
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treewolf39
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ronperrin
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Reference: Health Risk From Microbiological Growth and Biofilms in Drinking water Systems. Published by the EPA office of Water June 17, 2002.
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/disinfection/tcr/pdfs/whitepaper_tcr_biofilms.pdfQUOTE:
PAGE 26 G. Sediment Accumulation
Significant microbial activity may occur in accumulated sediment (USEPA, 1992b). Organic and inorganic sediments can also accumulate in low-flow areas of the distribution system, and enhance microbial activity by providing protection and nutrients (USEPA, 1992b). Biofilms that slough can accumulate in the periphery of distribution systems leading to sediment accumulation and the proliferation of some microorganisms (van der Kooij, 2000). Sediments may be an important source of nutrients in open finished water reservoirs, by accumulating slowly biodegrading materials which
are then broken down and released into the water column (LeChevallier, 1999b). The opportunities for biofilm development may be more abundant in storage tanks than in distribution system piping. Frequently, water is drawn from storage tanks only when water demand is high, such as during drought, fire flow, and flushing operations. This intermittent use results in prolonged storage times that may lead to increased sediment accumulation and lack of a disinfectant residual in the finished water storage vessel. Biological and aesthetic effects can be observed following the release of accumulated sediments from low flow areas of the distribution system (Geldreich, 1990).
Many studies have identified microbes in accumulated sediments, including both pathogens and non-pathogens. These include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, algae, fungi and invertebrates. Opportunistic pathogens that have been detected, and can multiply in sediments, include Legionella and mycobacteria (van der Kooij, 2000). Some primary pathogens can also survive for some time in sediments. Hepatitis A virus survived more than four months in sediments at both 5/C and 25/C (Sobsey et al., 1986). Other opportunistic pathogens found in sediments include Pseudomonas fluorescens
and Flavobacterium spp. (Berger et al., 1993). Sediments can also release nutrients into the water which stimulate biofilm growth downstream (LeChevallier, 1999b).I. Proper Storage Vessel Management and Alteration Page 34
Proper storage vessel management and alteration, when necessary, can prevent contamination of the distribution system. Following TCR violations in 1996 in Washington D.C., one measure that proved effective in bringing the system back into compliance was the cleaning, inspection and disinfection of storage tanks and reservoirs (Clark, et al., 1999).END QUOTE
- 8 months ago
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ronperrin
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ronperrin
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Tell Rachel Maddow that this should be the BEST NEW THINK IN THE WORLD!
E-mail Rachel@msnbc.com - 8 months ago
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ronperrin
